News Analysis India

Tag: RJD

  • Game on, Bihar!: Lalu Prasad Yadav’s bail means sleepless nights ahead for Nitish government?

    Express News Service
    PATNA: After a long time, politics in Bihar is speculated to get a new turn with the release of imprisoned RJD chief Lalu Prasad. He was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court in connection with the multi-crore fodder scam. 

    Known for turning the applecart of politics without giving an iota of hint to opponent, Lalu Prasad might pretend to remain ‘silent’ or ‘less-active’ in politics after return to Patna. But his political- intelligence cannot remain idle in the present context of Bihar politics. The former Chief Minister is a great political mathematician, adroit in political, what local analysts call, ‘Jor-Ghatao’ (addition and subtraction). He has acquired mastery in politics over how a subject can be converted into an issue of people.

    READ HERE: RJD upbeat as Lalu Prasad Yadav set to walk out of jail after Jharkhand HC grants bail

    Amid the surging COVID-19 crisis, how the news of Lalu Prasad’s release has brought gloom on the face of NDA leaders was evident. While the supporters of RJD supremo exhibited their jubilation, CM Nitish Kumar feigned ignorance on the matter and said, ‘Mujhe nahi malum hai. Chalo ye sab hote rahata hai’, (I have not come to know it. It keeps happening), while coming out from an all-party meet on Saturday.

    “Ab khela hobe Bihar me’ (Now game will happen in Bihar), was what Kedar Yadav-a die-hard supporter of Lalu Prasad jokingly expressed in jubilation. Bihar’s political corridors went pondering and predicting as to whether there will be a change in the political air of the state after he comes out of jail. Bihar’s many political pundits started predicting ‘something unusual’ to take place, maybe not sooner but certainly later.

    Many feel the return of Lalu may fall like a hammer on the stability of the ruling NDA government. “Even if Lalu Prasad’s silence may result into a twist in politics,giving hard times to Nitish Kumar- led government, which is surviving on the supports of two smaller allies”, said Ashok Kumar Mishra, a political commentator at Patna.

    When asked if political equations change in Bihar if Lalu Prasad Yadav comes out on bail, veteran political analyst and former director of AN Sinha Institute of Social Sciences DM Diwakar said: “Since Lalu Prasad is still considered as a leader of mass, his words and statements in politics are taken seriously by large sections of people and his political manoeuvring is well known to his all opponents”.

    It may be possible that due to his poor health, Lalu Prasad may not play from the front but his strategies will help the RJD in giving sleepless night to NDA. A tweet of Lalu’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav: “The messiah of poor, deprived and downtrodden people are coming out, Tell those who do injustice, our leader is coming”, speaks a lot of what is next on the agenda of RJD after Lalu’s return.

    Many political experts, who know Lalu’s political strategies, said that arrogant bureaucracy, COVID-crisis, prohibition and unemployment may be fanned to move the people against the ruling side. In state like Bihar, the growing anger against irresponsible bureaucrats can be used against the government by the RJD.

    ALSO READ | RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav granted bail, likely to get out of jail soon

    Dr RK Verma, acclaimed political analyst and honorary secretary of Bihar chapter of Indian Institute of Political administration, said:” Lalu’s appearance after being out on bail will strengthen the political forces-OBCs led by Yadav and Muslims. His presence will certainly be enough to sharpen the RJD’s further strategies against ruling alliance more aggressively”.

    For the last three decades, Lalu Prasad has been the axis of Bihar politics. But for RJD supporters, it was the sacred Saturday that proved lucky for bail to Lalu Prasad. Tejashwi Yadav, leader of opposition and Lalu’s younger son said that the bail to RJD chief was a victory of justice and reaffirms the trust of people in the judiciary. “But we will act as per the advice of doctors who are taking care of him in AIIMS”, he said.

    Sources said that either on Tuesday or Wednesday, Lalu Prasad will come out from judicial custody completing all legal formalities. “If doctors allow, he may come to Patna or otherwise continue under safe treatment in AIIMS”, said RJD sources.

  • ‘BJP only works for big people’: Tejashwi attacks saffron party at Assam rallies

    By PTI
    RATABARI/DHOLAI: Terming BJP as “Badka Jhoota Party” (Biggest Lying Party), RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Saturday said the problem of unemployment will end once the betrayers will be dethroned.

    Addressing two back-to-back rallies at Ratabari and Dholai in Barak valley of Assam, the Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly said the situation of inflation was not so severe during the tenure of the Congress.

    “BJP means Badka Jhoota Party. You need to be careful of them. The BJP does not talk about ‘mudda’ (issues) but talks about ‘murda’ (dead). And what are the main issues? Our democracy and Constitution is at stake. We need to save that,” he said.

    Alleging that the BJP works only for the “big people”, Yadav claimed every big organisation like the railways having scope to generate jobs are being sold off.

    “Job is the biggest problem. Large number of youths are unemployed. Unemployment is the biggest enemy. How will it be cured then? It will be cured when we will remove the cheater and betrayer from the chair.

    “So, will there be ‘khela hobe’ or not? If there is ‘khela hobe’, then unemployment will end. Five lakh jobs will be given as guarantees. And for that, all of you should be united while voting,” he added.

    The RJD leader asserted that inflation was not so high during the Congress regime and prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas were not so high.

    “How will you run your house at such high inflation? I want to thank Rahul Gandhi and all the ‘Mahajot’ (Grand Alliance) partners because of the guarantee of giving Rs 2,000 per month to every housewife,” he said.

    The Congress, which was in power for 15 years in Assam since 2001, has formed a ‘Grand Alliance’ with AIUDF, BPF, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM), RJD and Jimochayan (Deori) Peoples Party (JPP) to fight the Assembly election against the BJP-led NDA.

    Yadav was in Assam to campaign for Congress candidates Sambhu Singh Mallah (Ratabari), Kamakhya Prasad Mala (Dholai), Mukesh Pandey (Lakhipur) and Sashi Kanta Das (Raha).

  • RJD calls Bihar bandh Friday to protest police action in Bihar assembly

    By PTI
    PATNA: RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Thursday gave a call for “Bihar Bandh” on March 26 in protest against forceful eviction of opposition MLAs from the assembly when they were agitating against the police bill two days back.

    Yadav further said that the bandh would include matters concerning unemployment and farmers issue on which a call for all India bandh on Friday has been given by the farmers’ bodies.

    The RJD leader claimed that the bandh has the support of Congress and other opposition parties that included left parties- CPI-ML, CPI(M) and CPI.

    “We have given a call for Bihar bandh tomorrow in the state. Though an all-India call has already been given by the farmers’ bodies for March 26. We witnessed a black day on March 23, the day when the state government murdered the democracy,” Tejashwi said.

    “Our MLAs were beaten up by police while holding dharna peacefully in front of the Speakers chamber,” the leader of opposition in the assembly told reporters here.

    The legislative assembly had witnessed unprecedented chaos when the grand alliance legislators had gheraoed the speaker’s chamber literally taking him hostage and their women members had prevented the speaker from taking his seat in the house later.

    Videos of the unruly scenes on Tuesday showed opposition members laying seize of speaker’s chamber and some of them being bodily evicted by the police and marshals later.

    Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had severely criticised the “unparliamentary” behavior of the opposition MLAs and while emphasizing on the need for the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021, had said had they debated the legislation the government could have cleared their doubts point-by-point.

    Hitting out at the chief minister, the RJD leader said “Kumar is in the last stage of his (political) career.

    The post (of CM) is not meant permanently for anybody”.

    He, however, also warned officials allegedly working at the behest of their political masters and said that they Should know that no one knows as when the government will collapse.

    “Bihar police have become JD(U) police,” he said while asserting that he is not afraid of them.

    “The state government will have to withdraw the ‘black legislation’ or at least it will have to bring certain amendments to the bill which has been passed forcibly,” he said.

    The bill has already been passed by both houses of the state legislature.

    In reply to a query that action may be taken against them (RJD members) for their misconduct in the assembly on March 23, he said “we are not afraid of any action.

    We are not like BJP workers who get frightened by such intimidation”.

    Highlighting past precedents of gheroe of speaker’s chamber, Yadav said “In 1974, socialists had occupied speakers chair and conducted the proceedings during Congress regime but police force was not called inside the assembly.

    “Not only this, Karpoori Thakur as CM had referred a bill to select committee after stiff protest from opposition in 1978,” Tejashwi said reminding Kumar of the past happenings.

    In 1986 when CM Kumar was himself a member of the House, Karpoori Thakur had sat on dharna for three consecutive days in the assembly on the issue of HEC, the 31-year-old son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad who was not even born then, said while asserting that police was not called inside the house even at that time.

  • Don’t mess with numerically stronger NDA: Nitish warns Opposition

    By PTI
    PATNA: Enraged over the day-long rumpus created by the opposition on the previous day, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday warned the Grand Alliance against provoking the ruling NDA which was numerically stronger.

    Kumar made the remark inside the legislative council where he rose to intervene when MLCs of the opposition coalition led by RJD tried to create a ruckus over the previous day’s happenings inside the assembly.

    The Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021, which had led to the day-long drama on Tuesday, was presented and being debated inside the Upper House a day later when Grand Alliance members made noises about the “high handed” manner in which MLAs were thrown out of the assembly a day earlier.

    Quivering with rage, the 70 years old chief minister screamed at the top of his voice “the entire public saw what goondaism took place yesterday. They will give you a befitting reply”.

    Waving an angry finger at Congress MLCs, Kumar said they seemed to have lost their sense of propriety following their long association with Lalu Prasads party which has often been accused of rowdyism.

    He also said “do not forget that we are greater in number than you are. Yesterday, people of this side sat quietly, maintaining decorum, while you were engaging in mischief. Be mindful of the consequences”.

    In the 243-member assembly, the ruling NDA has 126 MLAs besides it enjoys the support of an Independent.

    The opposition has 110 legislators while AIMIM has 5 and one MLA is from LJP.

    In the 75-member legislative council, the ruling coalition has overwhelming numbers.

    Later, talking to reporters, Kumar expressed displeasure over the opposition accusing him directly of having called the police, on Tuesday, inside to help marshals physically evict the most unruly of the opposition MLAs.

    “It is the Speakers prerogative to requisition whatever resources he deems necessary to maintain order inside the premises.

    “Whatever happened yesterday was unusual but has there been any other instance, in any state legislature, of the Speaker having been held hostage”, Kumar asked.

    He also deplored the opposition indulging in acts like tearing up documents and throwing shreds of paper towards the Chair besides clambering atop the speakers dais to physically prevent him from running the House.

    Asked about the intention expressed by speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha that action might be taken against those MLAs whose behaviour was found most objectionable, the chief minister replied “the government has nothing to do with that.

    “If the speaker deems it fit, he will take action in accordance with rules. We will neither egg him on nor try to restrain him”.

  • Apologise for assembly ruckus or we will boycott remaining sessions: RJD to Nitish Kumar

    By ANI
    PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday demanded an apology from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar following a ruckus in the state assembly over the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill 2021. He also threatened to boycott the remaining assembly sessions in the tenure of the current government if Kumar doesn’t issue an apology for the same.

    Terming the Bihar Chief Minister as “Nirlajj Kumar Ji”, Tejashwi said, “Nitish Kumar Ji should know that governments change. MLAs were abused and beaten inside the assembly yesterday.”

    “If Nitish Kumar does not apologise for the incident, we may boycott the assembly for the remaining tenure. ‘Nirlaj Kumar Ji’ has lost all shame,” he added.

    Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered against Tejashwi and his brother Tej Pratap Yadav, along with several unnamed party workers, for the protest they carried out on Tuesday against the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill 2021. Police resorted to baton- charge and had also used water cannons to maintain the situation.

    On Tuesday evening, the assembly session witnessed multiple adjournments as the RJD leaders shouted slogans against the bill. After a few Opposition leaders prevented Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha from leaving his chamber, police personnel reached the assembly premises to evict the MLAs. Women MLAs of the Opposition were carried out of the assembly building by women security personnel.

    RJD leader Jagdanand Singh also condemned the incident and said: “The ruling government in Bihar has made ‘mockery’ of Bihar.”

    RJD claims that that the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill means that search will be conducted without a warrant and “any policemen can arrest if he believes something is wrong”. 

  • Double-engine governments in Assam, Centre useless, corrupt: Tejashwi Yadav

    By PTI
    TINSUKIA: Senior RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Monday alleged that the “double- engine” governments run by the BJP at the Centre and in Assam are “useless” as they indulged in corruption spread hatred among people.

    Addressing his first election rally in Assam at Tinsukia, the former deputy chief minister of Bihar claimed that the saffron party practises the politics of hate.

    “Inflation is at its peak. BJP governments are there in Assam and at the Centre. That means it is a double-engine government. But it is useless. Everywhere corruption is taking place and they are creating enmity between brothers. Politics of hate is happening,” he said.

    The BJP has been saying that double-engine government (same party rule in Centre as well as state) ensures speedy development.

    Urging people to support the Congress-led Grand Alliance in Assam of which the RJD is a part, Yadav described the BJP as the “Badka Jhoota Party” (Biggest Lying Party).

    “I had said (during campaigning for Bihar assembly polls) that 10 lakh government jobs would be given on the first cabinet meeting.

    The BJP copied that and claimed they would provide 20 lakh jobs.

    “They formed the government by the back door. Now ask them where are the jobs? They cheated everyone,” he said.

    Yadav was here to campaign for RJD candidate Hira Devi Choudhury, who is contesting from Tinsukia, a constituency having a sizeable number of Hindi speaking people.

    He alleged that the mandate in the Bihar elections held in 2020 was changed and “the lantern (the RJDs symbol) should light in Assam”.

    In the election results for 243 assembly seats announced on November 10, the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan lost to the NDA.

    The RJD had emerged as the single largest party with 75 seats.

    He asked the people of Assam to remain alert during the election process alleging that “the BJP wants to win by hook or by crook”.

    Paying respect to former chief minister Tarun Gogoi who died in November last year, the RJD leader said the Congress had a long stint in Assam and it did a lot of work for the development of the state.

    “When the Congress government was here, there was peace everywhere and only development issues were discussed. Nowadays, only hatred is discussed. That is why please make a Congress-RJD government in Assam. Our alliance has promised five guarantees which will be implemented without fail,” he said.

    He said that if the Grand Alliance is voted to power, a law will be introduced to nullify the CAA, five lakh government jobs will be given, 200 units of electricity will be free for all, housewives will get Rs 2,000 per month and the minimum wage of tea garden workers will be raised to Rs 365.

    “The BJP had promised to increase the daily wage of tea workers, but they cheated them,” Yadav said.

  • Opposition to corner Nitish Kumar govt in House over proposed Bihar Special Police Bill

    Express News Service
    PATNA: After the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens, now the proposed Bihar Special Police Bill, 2021 is likely to snowball into a major confrontation between the opposition and the ruling government on March 23, when it will be tabled in the House.

    The opposition is learnt to have channelised its political strength in the House to oppose the proposed Bill in the House terming it a move to convert Bihar into a police state.

    On March 23, the government is likely to bring the Bill to the House for discussion.

    “The Bill is intended to convert the state into a typical police state with provisions made therein to empowering the police to arrest anyone or conduct a search without obtaining specific warrants from the competent court,” RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said.

    The opposition has also urged the Speaker to let the draft of the Bill go through a select committee before it is allowed to be brought in the House.

    The opposition alleged that the proposed Bihar Special Bill 2021 will be misused to settle political scores and have a draconian effect on the human rights of people.

    According to RJD leader Bhai Virendra, the Bill “will violate the fundamental human rights of people by promoting excessive police actions against the people.”

  • RJD slams Nitish govt after dead doctor promoted, transferred as civil surgeon of Sheikhpura district

    Express News Service
    PATNA: The Bihar government was left red-faced in the state assembly after the Opposition MLAs cornered it for transferring and appointing a deceased doctor as the civil surgeon for Sheikhpura district. 

    Dr Ram Narayan Ram, a resident of Bhojpur district, succumbed to the COVID-19 virus last month. He was posted as a medical officer at the public health centre in Rohtas till he tested positive for the infection. 

    After the media reports of this faux pas came to the fore, an embarrassed state health department swung into action and appointed a senior medical officer Dr KK Singh as the new civil surgeon for the district within hours of the uproar sparked in the assembly. 

    Prior to the House proceedings, RJD MLA from Sheikhpura, Vijay Samrat exposed the goof-up before the media. He said that medical officer Dr Ram Narayan Ram, who had died in February of Covid-19, has now been posted as CS in Sheikhpura after promotion.

    The order for the deceased doctor’s posting along with 11 others was issued on Monday.

    Even after a month of his death, the health department remained ignorant. On being asked, principal secretary Pratyay Amrit said that the department was not being informed about his death from the place he was posted. “The department was not updated about Dr Ram’s demise. The delay led to his mistake which is now rectified and a new civil surgeon has been appointed for Sheikhpura,” he said, further adding that a show-cause notice has been issued to the officer responsible who will be suitably reprimanded. 

    The RJD legislators alleged that the state health department is committing such a blunder since it had fallen sick. “This incident shows the condition of the current healthcare system in Bihar,” Samrat said.

  • People of Bihar living in West Bengal will vote for development: Manoj Tiwari

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Tuesday said the people of Bihar living in West Bengal will vote for “development”, paying no attention to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who has voiced support to Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the upcoming Bengal polls.

    The Northeast Delhi MP, who hails from Bihar, said leaders from the state should stop treating its people as their vote bank in other states.

    “Tejashwi should have learnt his lesson from the Bihar polls, where people voted in favour of the BJP and the JD(U) due to their development aspirations.

    His appeal to the people from Bihar living in Bengal to support the TMC will fail as they will vote for the BJP and development,” Tiwari said.

    Seeking to forge unity among secular political parties in the West Bengal Assembly polls, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Yadav met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday and appealed to the people from Bihar domiciled in Bengal to vote for the ruling TMC.

    Yadav said the first priority of his party was to stop the BJP’s progress in West Bengal.

    He, however, ducked questions by journalists on whether the RJD will contest the election in an alliance with the TMC, saying the upcoming polls will be a fight for saving “ideals and values”.

    “Our party’s stand is to provide full support to Mamataji,” he said.

    Tiwari, a former Delhi BJP president and a popular Bhojpuri singer and actor, is likely to be one of the star campaigners for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal.

    The Assembly polls for 294 seats in the state will be held in eight phases starting March 27 and The results will be announced on May 2.

  • Will Tejashwi Yadav make any impact in Assam and Bengal?

    By Express News Service
    PATNA: Will the RJD’s plans to enter the electoral fray in West Bengal and Assam inflict any damages on its target, the BJP? This has become a million-dollar political question being asked by Bihar’s political observers and analysts.

    Some analysts say RJD’s influence could be felt in some pockets where Hindi-speaking voters are permanently settled in Assam and Bengal.

    As per rough estimation, compared to Bengal, its neighbour Assam has a larger population of Hindi-speaking voters who had migrated from Bihar.

    ALSO READ | RJD to contest Assam polls aiming Hindi-speaking voters: Tejashwi Yadav

    “Around, two per cent of voters are Hindi-speaking in Assam, who owe lineages from Bihar and a majority of them belong to Yadav community.

    In some seats, they may be able to swing the results,” said Arun Kumar Pandey, a seasoned political analyst-cum- senior journalist in Patna. He added that the RJD may try to highlight the unemployment issue during thr BJP rule during the campaign.